Determining costs associated with an hvac system

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems for determining costs associated with an HVAC system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to identify a number of parameters associated with a zone of an HVAC system, to input the identified parameters into a first model, estimate, using the first model, an unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone based on the input parameters, to input actions associated with an adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone, based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone and the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone, into a second model, and determine, using the second model, a cost associated with the adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computing device for determining a cost associated with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to:
 identify a number of parameters associated with a zone of an HVAC system of a facility to input into a first model configured to estimate unmeasured heat gains occurring in the zone of the HVAC system of the facility; 
 input the identified parameters into the first model; 
 estimate, using the first model, an unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone based, at least in part, on the input parameters; 
 input actions associated with an adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone, based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone and the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone, into a second model configured to determine costs associated with maintaining different temperature set points of the zone; and 
 determine, using the second model, a cost associated with the adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone based, at least in part, on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the identified parameters include only parameters associated with the zone that affect an air temperature of the zone during a particular time interval. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to estimate, using the first model, the unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone during a number of time intervals based, at least in part, on the input parameters. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 3 , wherein the number of time intervals include:
 a nighttime interval;   a morning interval; and   a daytime interval.   
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 identify the number of parameters to input into the first model by:
 grouping the number of parameters into a number of groups, wherein:
 each respective group corresponds to a different time interval; and 
 the number of parameters in each respective group are parameters that affect an air temperature of the zone during the time interval to which that respective group corresponds; and 
 
 selecting the number of parameters in a particular one of the number of groups to input into the first model; 
   input the selected number of parameters into the first model; and   estimate, using the first model, the unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone during the time interval that corresponds to that particular group based, at least in part, on the input parameters.   
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to estimate the unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone by determining a difference between an actual air temperature of the zone and an air temperature of the zone predicted by the first model based on the input parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
 input the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone, and the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone, into the first model;   determine, using the first model, actions the HVAC system of the facility would have to take to make the adjustment; and   determine, using the second model, the cost associated with the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone by determining, based at least in part on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone, a cost associated with taking the determined actions the HVAC system of the facility would have to take to make the adjustment.   
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 7 , wherein the actions the HVAC system of the facility would have to take to make the adjustment include:
 an adjustment of a supply air temperature for the zone; and   an adjustment of a supply air mass flow for the zone.   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine, using the second model, the cost associated with the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone by:
 determining an amount of energy the HVAC system of the facility would consume in making the adjustment based, at least in part, on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone; and   determining the cost associated with the adjustment based on the determined amount of energy the HVAC system of the facility would consume in making the adjustment.   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine, using the second model, the cost associated with the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone based, at least in part, on:
 a number of efficiency parameters of the HVAC system;   a return air temperature for the zone;   a ratio of outside air in the return air for the zone; and   an air temperature outside the facility.   
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the number of parameters associated with the zone include:
 a coefficient of mixing for supply air and zone air of the zone;   a coefficient of heat transfer through an external wall of the facility; and   a coefficient of heat transfer to the facility mass.   
     
     
         12 . A method for determining a cost associated with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 inputting a number of parameters associated with a zone of an HVAC system of a facility into a first model configured to determine a daily temperature profile for the zone of the HVAC system of the facility;   determining, using the first model, the daily temperature profile for the zone based, at least in part, on an internal heat gain profile for the zone;   inputting the daily temperature profile for the zone into a second model configured to determine costs associated with failures of components of the HVAC system; and   determine, using the second model, a cost associated with a failure of a component of the HVAC system that is associated with the zone based, at least in part, on the daily temperature profile.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the internal heat gain profile for the zone includes:
 a solar heat gain occurring in the zone;   heat from occupants in the zone; and   heat from equipment in the zone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method includes:
 determining, based on historical weather data, a daily outside air temperature profile for the facility;   inputting the daily outside air temperature profile for the facility into the first model; and   determining, using the first model, the daily temperature profile for the zone based, at least in part, on the daily outside air temperature profile for the facility.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method includes:
 determining, based on a control strategy model, an amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system;   inputting the amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system into the first model; and   determining, using the first model, the daily temperature profile for the zone based, at least in part, on the amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the method includes:
 determining, based on an amount of energy used by the HVAC system to heat the zone, an amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system;   inputting the amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system into the first model; and   determining, using the first model, the daily temperature profile for the zone based, at least in part, on the amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to:
 determine, using a model configured to estimate unmeasured heat gains occurring in a zone of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a facility a cost associated with an adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone; and   determine, using a model configured to determine a daily temperature profile for the zone of the HVAC system of the facility, a cost associated with a failure of a component of the HVAC system that is associated with the zone.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to determine the cost associated with the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone by:
 identifying a number of parameters associated with the zone to input into the model configured to estimate unmeasured heat gains;   inputting the identified parameters into the model configured to estimate unmeasured heat gains;   estimating, using the model configured to estimate unmeasured heat gains, an unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone based, at least in part, on the input parameters;   inputting actions associated with an adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone, based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone and the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone, into an additional model configured to determine costs associated with maintaining different temperature set points of the zone; and   determining, using the additional model, the cost associated with the adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone based, at least in part, on the unmeasured heat gain estimated using the model.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to determine the cost associated with the failure of the component of the HVAC system that is associated with the zone by:
 inputting a number of parameters associated with the zone into the model configured to determine the daily temperature profile for the zone;   determining, using the model configured to determine the daily temperature profile for the zone, the daily temperature profile for the zone based, at least in part, on an internal heat gain profile for the zone, a daily outside air temperature profile for the facility, and an amount of heat provided to the zone by the HVAC system;   inputting the daily temperature profile for the zone into an additional model configured to determine costs associated with failures of components of the HVAC system; and   determining, using the additional model, the cost associated with the failure of the component based, at least in part, on the daily temperature profile.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to send the determined cost associated with the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone and the determined cost associated with the failure of the component of the HVAC system that is associated with the zone to a mobile device.